Mail-box.



UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

TEMISTOCLE E. MELA, OF SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA.

MAILBoX.

Application filed September 26. 1912.

To all whoa/1,275 may concern Be it known that I, TEMisTocLn E. MELA, residing at Sacramento, in the county of Sacramento and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improve` ments in Mail-Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention, which in its general nature relates to improvements in letter boxes, more particularly has reference to that type of mail boxes having gravity dropped doors vof the parts hereinafter fully explained,

specifically pointed out in the appended claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a mail box constructed in accordance with my invention, parts of the same being in the closed or normal position. Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view of my improvedmail box, the parts being adjusted for discharging the box contents into the mail bag. 3 is a perspective view, that illustrates in detail, the general construction of the drop bottom lock devices and the coperating indicator closure releasing and holding devices. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the slidable lock bolt. Fig. 5.is a perspective view of the key controlled cylinder for releasing the lock bolt and indicator cover members hereinafter referred to.

1n the practical construction, the box 1 is preferably of square or rect-angular shape and formed with an open bottom that is closed by a hinged drop door 2, the latter being so hung on the box that when opened it hangs from the rear edge of the box to facilitate the ready discharge of the mail matter into the collecting sack which latter is slipped over the lower end of the box when collecting the mail, see Fig. 2.

4t designates the mail receiving inlet, located at the top of the box and provided with the usual drop guard or shield 5.

Speccaton of Letters Patent.

Patented May 27 1913.

Serial No. 722,491. l

6 designates a dial located below the mail Y inlet, for indicating the times fo-r making the mail collections, and the same is normally closed by a glass cover hinged at the lower end whereby to `drop by gravity when released, in the manner presently explained.

7 designates a supplemental indicator plate located below the dial 6 and closed by a glass cover 70, the said space, in practice, being utilized for displaying special notices.

In my improved construction of mail box,

I have provided for simultaneously dropping the hinged bottom 2 and the dial cover 60, so that it will be impossible for the postman to collect the mail without noticing the dial and thereby draw his attention to the resetting of the dial for the next collection, and for such purpose l employ the locking devices best shown in Fig. 3. The aforesaid devices comprise a slide bolt 8 (mounted in a housing portion 80 formed on the front wall of the box 1) and which is normally forced inwardly by a coiled spring 9, that takes around a stem 81 on the bolt that slides through an aperture 82 in the box front when the bolt is forced back against the tension of its pusher'spring 9. Bolt 8 has a beveled edge 90 to allow for the ready snapping of the door 2 to its closed position when swung up. For guiding the bolt it has lateral lugs 83 that engage grooves Sli in the housing provided therefor. 10 designates a latch hinged at 11 to the inside of the front wall of the box, its free end being held from excess movement by a guard 12 on the said wall and normally swung to the upper or locking position by a coiled spring 13.

14 designates a latch tongue on the dial cover GO that projects through an aperture in the mail box front, slips over, and interlocks with the latch 10, when the dial cover is swung up to its closed position.

15 designates an unlocking member horizontally disposed and rockably mounted in the bolt housing and located directly over the bolt 8, and the said member has a short lug or crank 1G for engaging a diagonally disposed and downwardly curved groove 17 in the top of the bolt, the said groove and the member 16 being relatively so arranged, whereby when the member 15 is turned in one direction, see arrow X, the bolt 8 will be slid back to release the drop door f2.

` Member 15 has a horizontal key set 17a in one end that alines a key hole 18 in the box front. i

19 designates a key having its shank formed to pass through the key hole into the key seat 17a.

Member l5 has a crank member 2O with which joins one end of a flexible connection 21 that extends up and fastens to the free end of the latch 10.

By reason of the peculiar'construction and the coperative arrangement of the parts that constitute my improved letter box it is apparent that When collecting the mail all that is required of the post-man is that he insert the key, give the member l5 a partial turn for simultaneously releasing the door 2 to drop the mail into the sack and for pulling down the latch 10 to releasethe Vdrop vcover 60. The dropping of the latter and the requirement that it be closed being suiii cient to attract the attention of the postman to the resetting of the dial and since access cannot be had to the dial until the door or cover 60 is dropped it is apparent that should the next collection be, say, 3.30 p. m., and it is desired to post a letter at 3.35 p. m; should the dial show 3.30 p. m. it is evident that the 3.30 p. m. collection has not been made.

IVhat I claim is:

l. In a mail box, a locked closure'member for the discharge outlet of the bax, an indicator for the said box, a locked cover for the said indicator, key controlled means operable from the outside of thel box for simultaneously releasing the closure member for the mail outlet and the cover for the indicator, said means including a slidable spring snap bolt for engaging the closure member, a latch for holding the indicator cover to its closed position, and a key engaged device that coperaties With the snap bolt and the latch `and adapted to release the closure member and the latch.

2. In a mail box, a locked closure member for the outlet of the mail box, an indicator for the said bo-x, a locked cover for the said indicator, means operable from the outside of the box for simultaneously releas-` ing the closure member for the mail outlet and t-he cover for the indicator, the said means including a slidable snap b olt, a spring that normally holds the bolt to its locking position, the said bolt having a cam- Way and a rocker device, said rocker device being key actuated from the outside of/the box and including a member for engaging the camway in the bolt whereby When the said device is rocked under key action the bolt is slid back to a releasing position and against the tension of its engaging spring.

3. In a mail box, a locked closure member for the outlet of the said box, an indicator on the outside of the box, a normally locked cover for the said indicator, said cover being hinged to swing down by gravity When released, means operable from the outside of the box for simultaneously releasing the A closure member for the mail outlet and the cover for the indicator, said means including a slidable snap bolt, a latch for holding the indicator cover to its closed position and an actuated device that cooperates With the snap bolt and the latch and adapted under key action to release the closure member and the latch.

4. In an open bottom mail box, a hinged closure member for the said bot-tom, a spring.

snap bolt for locking the closure member, an indicator on the face of the box, a gravity dropped hinged cover for the said indicator,

a latch device for holding said cover to its closed position, said device including a latch I;

lever pivot-ally mounted on the inside of the box, the aforesaid snap bolt having a diagonally disposed groove, a member rockably mounted over the bolt and having a keyway for receiving the actuating key, the. 1

said rocker member having a projection for engaging the'said diagonal groove whereby to shift the said snap bolt and having a crank extension and a connecting member that joins the latch With the said crank exf tension on the rocker member.

TEMISTOCLE E. MELA. Vitnesses ALEXANDER FIORE, VICENTINI VALENTINO.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patenti. Washington, D. C. 

